The NASA Star Finder charts are constructed based on the visible night sky at 34° N latitude, about as far north of the equator as Los Angeles, California. Will the constellations on the Star Finder chart shift in the sky if you observe the night sky from further north?
Yes, the constellations will indeed appear to shift in the sky if you observe from a latitude further north than 34° N. This is because the position of the stars and constellations in the night sky are relative to an observer's latitude on the Earth.
When viewing the sky from a location further north, you will notice the following changes compared to the view from 34° N latitude:
1. **Different circumpolar constellations**: The constellations that are close to the celestial pole and never set (circumpolar constellations) will be different. For someone at a higher latitude, these constellations will appear to circle a point closer to directly overhead, and there will be different constellations that never rise or set.
2. **Higher celestial pole**: The altitude of the north celestial pole (close to Polaris, the North Star) in the sky will be equal to the latitude from which you are observing. Thus, at a higher latitude, the North Star will appear at a higher angle above the horizon.
3. **Different visible constellations**: Constellations that are visible at 34° N might not be visible, or only partially visible, from further north, especially those nearer the southern celestial hemisphere. Conversely, some northern constellations that might not be visible, or only low on the horizon from Los Angeles, will appear higher in the sky and be easier to see from more northern latitudes.
4. **Change in the path of constellations**: As the Earth rotates, you will observe the stars following different paths across the sky compared to what you would see at 34° N. The paths will generally be more circular for stars closer to the celestial pole and elongated for stars further from it.
5. **Seasonal variation**: There is also seasonal variation in the night sky due to Earth's orbit around the Sun. The constellations visible at any time of night will shift over the course of the year, regardless of latitude.
A star chart specific to a different latitude or one that is adjustable for different latitudes is helpful if you're stargazing from a significantly different latitude than the one for which your current star chart is designed.